
                         Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: FRIDAY, February 15, 1991                   TAG: 9102150713
SECTION: NATIONAL/INTERNATIONAL                    PAGE: A-3   EDITION: EVENING 
SOURCE: Associated Press
DATELINE:                                 LENGTH: Medium

CBS CREW BEING HELD IN BAGHDAD/ SADDAM REPORTEDLY WILL DECIDE FATES

CBS News reporter Bob Simon and three crew members who disappeared in the northern Saudi desert last month have been held in Baghdad for two weeks, CNN reported today.

The crew was reported missing at the Kuwaiti border Jan. 21, four days after the war started. CNN quoted what it called reliable sources as saying the fate of the crew would be decided by Saddam Hussein.

"We have no further confirmation beyond what has been reported" by CNN, CBS spokesman Tom Goodman said. "But this is the most detailed information we've had since the crew disappeared."

CBS is "obviously pleased the Iraqis have allowed this information to be released," Goodman said. "We hope that the Iraqis recognize the four are journalists and not combatants, and were simply there to cover a story."

The four were picked up by an Iraqi military jeep patrol in a remote part of the Kuwait border, CNN reported. Goodman said the news was relayed to CBS about 6 a.m. EST, before the cable network televised it.

They "are still being investigated by the Iraqi intelligence service to determine the full circumstances of their capture," CNN correspondent Peter Arnett said.

"Apparently, there are three categories they can fall under: innocents who could be released, prisoners of war or spies," Arnett said. "I am told that President Saddam Hussein will personally determine the outcome of the cases."

Arnett said he was told the crew was being held near the former residence of the U.S. Embassy Marine guards.

"My sources say that the health of all three is good. They are being fed three meals a day, the same food as their investigators," he said.

Three of the crew were wearing military uniforms to pass by Saudi checkpoints in the guise of American soldiers, Arnett said he was told.

"They said they wanted to get closer to Kuwait than was permitted at the time," the crew told investigators, according to Arnett. The four were traveling without a military escort.

It was not clear if Simon was in a uniform or what nation's uniform reportedly was worn. Goodman said CBS "has no information" on whether the crew was wearing uniforms.

by CNB